Wrongdoing allegations raised against West Virginia State Police

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – WSAZ has obtained an nameless letter claiming severe allegations of wrongdoing towards members of the West Virginia State Police.

The letter was despatched to quite a few delegates, senators, and Legal professional Basic Patrick Morrisey. It states the knowledge was additionally mailed a number of months in the past to the Governor’s Workplace and the West Virginia Workplace of Particular Investigations.

The five-page letter particulars accusations together with a hidden digital camera system that was positioned within the girls’s locker room on the West Virginia State Police coaching academy, a “ghost account” used for purchases, falsified time beyond regulation and a trooper not reporting three crashes in a department-issued automobile.

A number of the accusations date again to 2018.

The letter states the West Virginia Division of Homeland Safety has performed an investigation into the allegations. The Governor’s Workplace confirms that investigation and says it’s anticipated to wrap up in two to 3 months.

Throughout a information briefing Thursday, Gov. Jim Justice addressed the investigation, saying, “However completely after I was knowledgeable of this, I instantly known as for an administrative investigation. We’ve got been doing that. There was many individuals concerned. Actually and actually, there may be concern, no query, there’s concern, however it’s no reflection on the State Police basically. If there’s a drawback, I absolutely can’t remark any extra on the investigation and that stuff right now. If there’s a drawback, it is going to be a really, very small quantity. With any group anyplace, State Police has 600-plus within the discipline in uniform and 400 in help roles. With a thousand individuals, there’s an excellent likelihood you may find yourself with a couple of dangerous eggs. If that be the case, they’ll be addressed they usually’ll be addressed in a short time they usually’ll be addressed in a method that’s sufficient to what they’ve finished that’s improper. Proper now, we don’t have to get into all that. We have to let the investigation conclude, and hopefully, the investigation concludes and there aren’t any issues. Wherever the investigation takes us is the place we’ll conclude.”

The governor additionally stated, “I’m fully assured with the West Virginia State Police. They do an incredible job, an incredible, superb job. Each single day, they put their lives on the road.”

West Virginia Division of Homeland Safety Jeff Sandy launched a press release that reads, “A number of months in the past, the Governor’s Workplace obtained an nameless letter which contained severe allegations made towards members of the West Virginia State Police. At the moment, the Governor requested {that a} full administrative investigation be instantly initiated to look into the allegations. Over the previous few months, in depth work has been finished by the Division of Homeland Safety’s Inspector Basic and different retired regulation enforcement officers employed by the Dept. of Homeland Safety. The investigation stays energetic and ongoing.”

Secretary Sandy went on to say within the assertion, “I be a part of the Governor in expressing continued confidence within the women and men of the West Virginia State Police. The actions of some shouldn’t tarnish the repute of the group. I look ahead to the investigation’s conclusion within the coming months.”

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